Reinforced coin drawer assembly

ABSTRACT

This disclosure is directed to a reinforced coin drawer assembly for use in a coin-operated machine. The coin drawer assembly comprises a sleeve-type housing which is reinforced and a removable coin drawer arranged to slide within the housing. The coin drawer is provided with a lock for securely locking and unlocking the drawer and housing assembly to a frame or cabinet portion of the coin-operated machine.

United States meme Greenwald [451 Feb.29,1972

[54] REINFORCED COIN DRAWER ASSEMBLY [72] lnventor: Harry Greenwald, Whitestone, N.Y.

[73] Assignee: Greenwald Industries, Inc., Brooklyn,

[22] Filed: Nov. 5, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 87,100

[52] US. Cl ..3l2/333, 232/ l [51] Int. Cl. ..A47b 95/00 [58] Field of Search ..220/71, 73; 232/15, 16; 70/86,

[56] References Cited .UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,083,896 4/1963 Cairelli et a1. ..232/l5 2,541,846 2/1951 Ullrich et a1. ..220/73 X 3,276,835 10/1966 Hall ..312/333 2,856,122 10/1958 Greenwald... ..232/l5 912,776 2/1909 Baker ...232/15 2,910,322 10/1959 Magor ...220/71 3,206,111 9/1965 Labe ..232/15 3,333,764 8/1967 Pennel ..232/15 3,339,835 9/1967 Itman .;232/15 X Primary Examiner-James T. McCall Attorney-Irving Seidman [57] ABSTRACT This disclosure is directed to a reinforced coin drawer assembly for use in a coin-operated machine. The coin drawer assembly comprises a sleeve-type housing which is reinforced and a removable coin drawer arranged to slide within the housing. The coin drawer is provided with a lock for securely locking and unlocking the drawer and housing assembly to a frame or cabinet portion of the coin-operated machine.

8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Patented Feb. 29, 1972 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. HARRY GREENWALD ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 29, 1972 3,645,598

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F6 i F6 29A-T f r J 29B 1 INVENTOR. HARRY GREENWALD ATTORNEY REINFORCED COIN DRAWER "ASSEMBLY PROBLEM -ANI) PRIOR ART Coin-operated machines, as for example-vending machines,

laundry-washers and dryers, dispensing machines and the like arerbeing widelyused to dispense various types of commodities andservicesrFrequently such machines remain unguarded Mand -unattended 'forconsiderable periods ,of time. For this =reason such coin-operated machines are made-the frequent targets of-would+be thieves and vandals.

"'Thecoins-for. effecting-the operation of'such coin-operated machines-werecollected, in a coin box'or drawer which-was merely inserted throughan'opening formed in a recessed wall portion 'of the. housing or cabinet of the. coin-operated. 1 machine and lockedin position therein. Generally such coin boxesarested. flush with the" wall portion of" the vending machinecabinet. To minimize-theft of such coin boxes, vari- -ous types-of lockrguardshave been conceived to protect the "locks from'being' picked or tampered with. While such'lock guards functionsatisfactorily as a deterrent against direct tampen'ng of-the lock, they offered no deterrentagainst a direct assaulbagainst the coin box or drawer. On vending machines protected-by a lock. guard, the would-be thieves or vandals soon discovered that access to the coin box could be attained.

by prying the-coin box free of the cabinet 'bydistorting the frame to enlarge the size of the .coin box opening so that the coin box could'then be. removed without tampering with the lock. The'technique utilized to force a coin box consisted of applying a tool in the form of a jack against the'opposed sidesof the-cabinet to force the sides outwardly, therebyenlarging the. opening" about the coin box. With the cabinet of the machine so distorted access to the coin box was attained.

OBJECTS Anobject of thisinvention is to provide, an improved coin drawertassembly constructed and arranged so as to prohibit would-be thieves and vandals from gaining 'direct'access to the coin box.

'A'notherobject of this invention is to provide animproved reinforced .coin drawer assembly which can be readily adapted toexisting'machines without the necessity of effecting any alteration ormodification to the construction of such existing machines.

1 Another'object of this invention is to provide a reinforced coin drawer assembly constructed and arranged so. as to prohibit access thereto by direct prying or forcing techniques heretofore utilized.

Anotherobject of this invention is to provide a reinforced coin drawer assembly comprising of a reinforced sleeve and a drawer slideably mounted therein wherein the-sleeve housing is constructed to effect a compressive force-on thedrawer which prohibits its-removal when anunauthoriz'edpressure or force is appliedto enlarge the drawer opening. I

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The foregoing objects and other features and advantages of this invention are attained by a reinforced coin drawer assembly comprising of a reinforced sleeve-type drawer housing and a complementary coin drawer adaptedhto be slideably received therein. The sleeve-type housing is sized so as'to be snugly received in the drawer opening formed ina wallportion of the frame or cabinet portion of a coin-operated machine.

'Therear or inner end portion of the sleeve is closed by a rear 1 wall.'-The drawer adapted to be receivedwithin-thesleeve is defined by opposed front and back walls withthe backwall being adapted to be disposed contiguous to the rear wall'of the housing in the assembled position. A lock means is carried on the front wall of the drawer by which. the drawer and housing assembly may be locked to the frame or. cabinet portion of a vending'machine. A reinforcing collar-circu'mscribes anextended-portion of the housingflhe arrangement is such that when athief or vandal attempts to effect removal of the coin box by applying a force thereto to enlarge the opening receiving the drawer. aswas-heretofore done, that the-collar portion ofthe housing is deflected to, impart a compressive force on 1 thecoin drawer whichwill prohibit the removal thereof.

To protect the-lockfrom' being tampered with, alock'guard may-be provided to shield the lock keyway.

FEATURES A feature of this invention. resides in the provision of a reinforced coin drawer assembly constructed so. asto be readily adapted either to anexistingmachine or a new machine.

Another feature of thisinvention resides in the provision of a coin drawerassembly comprising a. reinforced sleeve-type housing-which isreadily inserted into an openingv formed in a wall portion of a frame or cabinet of a coin-operated machine, and which sleeve is adapted 1 to slideably receive the coin drawer, the entire assembly. being locked in placeby a lock carried on the coin drawer.

Another feature of this invention resides in the provision wherein the housing and drawer can be readily locked and unlocked tothe frame or cabinet portion of a vending machine in a mannercurrently employed inexistingmachines.

Anotherfeature of this invention resides in the provision of a coin drawer assembly constructed so as to detentheefforts of a would-bethief'fromgaining accesstothe coin drawer by forcingthe sides of the. coin machine to enlargethe drawer opening. Otherfeatures and advantages will become more readily apparent when considered in view ofthe drawingsandspecificalustrating the coin; drawer assembly in the locked on operative position .within the cabinet portion of .a coinvending machine.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary detail of construction of; the sleeve housing of FIG. 2.

Referring to-the drawings, there isillustrated in'FlG. 1, somewhat schematically, a coin-operated device 10 such as a coin-operated vending machine, washer, dryer or the like. Such coin-operated devices 10 generally comprise a frame or outer :cabinet 11 having a wall portion 12, as for example, a

' frontzwallportion formed .withan opening 13. In existing machines opening 13 was adapted to accommodate a coin drawer, as for-example, as disclosed in. my U.S..Pat. No.

Frequently, as illustrated in FIG. I, the wall portion 12 formed with the coin box opening 13 was recessed, and the coin.slide-SFdisposed immediately above the coin box.

In accordance-with thisinvention, a reinforced, coin drawer assembly 14 isadapted to be receivedwithin the drawer open- *ing .l3. The drawer assembly 14 comprises a sleeve-type housingilS which is.inserted,into. opening 13. Slideably disposed within the sleeve housing 15 is a coin box or drawer 16.

As best seenin FIGS. 2. and Sthe sleeve housingllS is formed asatubular member. sized to be snugly received within the..=cab,inet-opening 13. In theillustrated embodiment the sleeve. housing 15'is defined by apair of complementarychan- 'nel-shaped members. 15A and 15B. vEach channel-shaped member 15A,.15B, as best seen in FIGS. 2 a.nd 6, is formed or blanked from a-sheet metal or steel plate having aweb portion 17 anda connectediopposed flange portion l8l8. As seen in FIG. 2, -the. respective channel members 15A, 158 in. the assembledposition are disposed inflange to flange relationship so;t.hat.-.=the.adjacent:- longitudinal edges of the. flanges 18 are v.75. =disposedinabutting or contiguous relationship.-Thc respec- -lnnno: 1 M10 tive channel members 15A, 15B are secured together by connecting strips 19 and 20 which are spotwelded to the abutting flanges. As seen in FIG. 2, strip 19 is suitably welded along the abutting edges of the upper flanges and strip 20 is suitably welded along the abutting edges of the lower flanges.

The upper flanges of the respective channel sections 15A, 15B are each formedwith a cutout so that in the assembled position, an opening 21 is formed in the top of the housing thus-formed. A transversely extending reinforcing bar 22 is suitably connected across the top adjacent the rear portion of the upper flanges. Thus in the assembled arrangement a substantially rectangular tubular sleeve housing is formed.

A rear wall 23 is interconnected between the web portion 17 of the channel-shaped members 15A, 15B defining the housing.

Circumscribing the front end of the housing is a reinforcing or built-up collar portion 24. In the illustrated form of the invention the reinforcing collar 24 is defined by a pair of C- shaped members 24A-24A constructedto firmly embrace the circumference of the housing 14. Preferably the body portion of the housing defined by channel members 15A, 158 may be formed of steel plate material having a thickness, for example, of three thirty-seconds of an inch. The reinforcing collar members 24A, 24A are also formed of plate steel of suitable thickness which when laminated or welded to the forward end portion of the housing will provide the leading end of the housing with a reinforced composite thickness of onefourth inch or more. The collar 24 is suitably secured or bonded to the body of the housing as, for example, by spotwelding.

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and the sleeve housing as defined by channel members 15A, 15B is sized so as to be snugly received within the opening 13 formed in the wall portion 12 of the cabinet 11. Accordingly, the shoulders 26 defined by the reinforcing collar 24 function as a stop means to limit the insertion of the housing 15 into opening 13. If desired reinforcing side braces 27 may be suitably spotwelded along the opposed sides of the reinforcing collar 24 to prohibit or block a would-be thief from inserting a prying tool between the housing 15 and the opening 13 formed in the front wall,'so as to prohibit the prying of the reinforcing sleeve from the wall of the machine.

A coin box or drawer 16 is arranged to be slideably received within the housing 15. As seen in FIGS. 3 and 4 the coin box or drawer 16 comprises a bottom 27 to which there is'connected opposed upright sidewalls 28, 29, a rear or backwall 30, and a reinforced front wall 31. While the drawer 16 may be formed of separate connected or welded sections, the illustrated drawer 16 is preferably formed from a metallic or steel plate formed of a blank shaped as shown in FIG. 4.

The blank 32 is shaped and scored or bent about transversely extending foldlines F1, F2, F3, and F4 to define a bottom forming panel 27 and the opposed side forming panels 28, 29. The rear wall 30is defined by an extended portion which is folded relative to the bottom panel 27 along foldline F4.

Connected to the opposed ends of the respective side panels 28, 29 are marginal flaps 28A-28B, 29A-29B, which are adapted to be folded at right angles to their respective side panels about foldlines F5 and F6 respectively. The bottom panel 27 is also provided with a marginal flange 27A folded or bent along foldline F3 disposed opposite the rear wall 30.

In the assembled form of blank 32 as seen in FIG. 3, the rear wall 30 is folded about foldline F4 to overly marginal flanges 28B, 298, the rear wall being secured thereto as by spotwelding or the like.

The front wall 31 comprises a thicker gauge piece which is suitably secured to the turned in marginal flanges 28A, 29A and 27A; as by spotwelding.

Mounted on the front wall 31 of the drawer 16 is a tumbler lock 34 of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,339,384. A locking shaft 35 connected to the armature of the lock 34 extends transversely the full length of the drawer 16. The free end 35A of the locking shaft is extended through aligned openings 30A and 23A formed in the rear wall 30 of the drawer and rear wall 23 of the housing respectively. Extending radially from the free end 35A of shaft 35 is a latching member in the form of bayonet locking pins 36. The latching member or bayonet pins 36 are arranged to engage the bayonet slots 36A formed in a tubular lock socket 37 secured to a frame member or partition 38A spaced inwardly of wall portion 12 of the cabinet 11, as seen in FIG. 5. Thus the sleeve 15 and associated coin drawer 16 when disposed within the opening 13 of the cabinet wall portion 12 are securely locked in place by turning locking shaft so that the pins 36 are latched no bayonet slots 36A. The arrangement is such that when the key is turned in the lock 34 in one direction, the locking shaft is rotated so thatthe latching pins 36 engage the bayonet slots 36A to lock the drawer 16 in place. To effect removal of the drawer, the lock shaft is rotated in the opposite direction which releases the latching member of pins 36 from the slots 36A of the catch socket 37 permitting the drawer 16 to be removed.

To prohibit removal of the sleeve housing 15, means are provided for securing the sleeve housing in position within the machine cabinet. Referring to FIG. 5, the housing 15 is retained by a fastener 40, e.g., a screw or bolt which extends through an opening 41 formed in the rear wall 23 of the housing and connects with a tapped hole formed in partition 38A or a nut secured thereto (not shown). Thus, it will be noted that the screw or bolt fastener 40 secures the housing 15 to the frame or partition 38A. If desired, a spacer 42 may be interposed between the rear.wall 23 of the housing and the partition 38A.

If desired, a lock guard 38 of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,444,712 and 3,334,501 may be secured to the front wall 31 of the coin drawer to shield the keyway 'from being picked or tampered with.

With the arrangement described it will be noted that access to the coin box by means other than an authorized key is rendered extremely difficult. The arrangement of the reinforced housing and drawer assembly 14 is such that in the event a would-be thief or vandal attempted to enlarge the coin box opening 13 by applying pressure or force to the opposed side portions of the housing as was heretofore customary when the coin box was inserted in a recessed front wall of a machine, that the force applied would cause the upper and lower flanges of the reinforced collar portion 24-24 of the housing to compress inwardly as the sides bow outwardly to bind the coin drawer within the sleeve and render the removal of the coin box impossible. The construction of the sleeve housinglS as herein described, insures against p'ilferage which was heretofore made possible by the application of force to the front wall to effect enlargement of the opening receiving the coin box. The present construction, herein described, thus provides a relatively simple and inexpensive solution to a serious problem heretofore encountered.

By utilizing the lock, guard 38 in conjunction with the improved reinforced sleeve-type housing 15 for receiving the coin box 16, the arrangement functions to deter pilferage by most of the known techniques heretofore employed by persons bent on stealing from unattended coin-operated machines.

While the present invention has been described with respect to a particular embodiment thereof, it will be readily appreciated and understood that variations and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a coin-operated machine having an outer wall portion formed with an openingtherein, the improvement of a reinforced coin drawer assembly adapted to be movably received in said opening, said drawer assembly including:

a sleeve housing adapted to be inserted through said opensaid housing being sized so as to be snugly received in said opening,

a rear wall connected to the inner end of said housing,

extends forwardly of said outer wall portion a predetermined amount, and

a reinforcing collar circumscribing the extended portion of said housing. 3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said sleeve rear wall and drawer end wall are each formed with aligned openings,

said lock means being carried on the front wall of said drawer, and

said lock means including a locking shaft extending through said aligned openings,

a catch means mounted in said machine adapted to receive the extended end of said shaft, and

complementary latching means connected to said shaft and catch means for effecting the latching of said shaft to said catch in the locked position.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said sleeve housing is formed with an access opening disposed above said drawer for receiving the coins to be deposited in said drawer.

5. A coin drawer assembly adapted to be inserted through a wall portion of a coin-operated machine comprising a tubular sleeve housing having opposed top and bottom walls and interconnected sidewalls,

a rear wall connected between said top, bottom and opposed sidewalls adjacent the inner end of said housing,

said rear wall having an opening formed therein,

means defining a coin access opening in said top wall,

said tubular wall having a front end portion adapted to project outwardly of the wall portion of said machine,

a reinforcing collar circumscribing said outwardly projecting front end portion,

a coin drawer adapted to be slideably received within said housing,

said drawer having a bottom wall and connected opposite sidewalls, and

a front wall and backwall interconnected between said end walls to define an open top drawer,

a lock means carried on the front wall,

said lock means including a locking shaft extending through said drawer,

said drawer backwall having an opening formed therein adapted to be disposed in alignment with said rear wall opening whereby said locking shaft is adapted to extend through said aligned openings of both said rear wall and backwall in the assembled position thereof,

and means for latching the end of said shaft in the locked position of said drawer whereby said tubular sleeve hous- 1 ing and coin drawer are adapted to be latched to a wall portion of the coin-operated machine.

6. A coin drawer assembly adapted to be inserted through a wall portion of a coin-operated machine comprising a tubular housing having opposed top and bottom walls and interconnected sidewalls,

a rear wall connected between said top, bottom and opposed side walls adjacent the inner end of said housing,

said rear wall having an opening formed therein,

means defining a coin access opening in said top wall,

said tubular wall having a front end portion adapted to project outwardly of the wall portion of said machine,

a reinforcing collar circumscribing said front end portion,

a coin drawer adapted to be slideably received within said housing,

said drawer having a bottom wall and connected opposite sidewalls, and

a front wall and backwall interconnected between said end walls to define an open top drawer,

a lock means carried on the front wall,

said lock means including a locking shaft extending through said drawer, said drawer backwall having an opening formed therein adapted to be disposed in alignment with said rear wall opening whereby said locking shaft is adapted to extend through said aligned openings in the assembled position thereof, and means for latching the end of said shaft in the locked position of said drawer wherein the walls of said housing are defined by a pair of channel-shaped members, each including a web portion and connected flange portions,

said channel members being disposed in flange to flange position whereby the respective web portions define the opposed sides of said housing,

and said reinforcing collar includes a pair of C-shaped members adapted to clamp about the extended end of said sleeve.

7. The invention as defined in claim 6 wherein said drawer comprises a blank of sheet material defining the bottom wall, sidewalls and a backwall.

8. The invention as defined in claim 6 and including a guard connected to the front wall of said drawer to protect said lock means. 

1. In a coin-operated machine having an outer wall portion formed with an opening therein, the improvement of a reinforced coin drawer assembly adapted to be movably received in said opening, said drawer assembly including: a sleeve housing adapted to be inserted through said opening, said housing being sized so as to be snugly received in said opening, a rear wall connected to the inner end of said housing, a coin drawer adapted to be slideably received in said housing, said drawer having opposed front and back end walls, said backwall being adapted to be disposed contiguous to the rear wall of said housing in the assembled position of said assembly, lock means carried on said drawer for locking said drawer to said machine, and said sleeve housing comprising a pair of channel-shaped members disposed in flange to flange relationship to define said sleeve, and means securing said members in assembled position.
 2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said housing extends forwardly of said outer wall portion a predetermined amount, and a reinforcing collar circumscribing the extended portion of said housing.
 3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said sleeve rear wall and drawer end wall are each formed with aligned openings, said lock means being carried on the front wall of said drawer, and said lock means including a locking shaft extending through said aligned openings, a catch means mounted in said machine adapted to receive the extended end of said shaft, and complementary latching means connected to said shaft and catch means for effecting the latching of said shaft to said catch in the locked position.
 4. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said sleeve housing is formed with an access opening disposed above said drawer for receiving the coins to be deposited in said drawer.
 5. A coin drawer assembly adapted to be inserted through a wall portion of a coin-operated machine comprising a tubular sleeve housing having opposed top and bottom walls and interconnected sidewalls, a rear wall connected between said top, bottom and opposed sidewalls adjacent the inner end of said housing, said rear wall having an opening formed therein, means defining a coin access opening in said top wall, said tubular wall having a front end portion adapted to project outwardly of the wall portion of said machine, a reinforcing collar circumscribing said outwardly projecting front end portion, a coin drawer adapted to be slideably received within said housing, said drawer having a bottom wall and connected opposite sidewalls, and a front wall and backwall interconnected between said end walls to define an open top drawer, a lock means carried on the front wall, said lock means including a locking shaft extending through said drawer, said drawer backwall having an opening formed therein adapted to be disposed in alignment with said rear wall opening whereby said locking shaft is adapted to extend through said aligned openings of both said rear wall and backwall in the assembled positiOn thereof, and means for latching the end of said shaft in the locked position of said drawer whereby said tubular sleeve housing and coin drawer are adapted to be latched to a wall portion of the coin-operated machine.
 6. A coin drawer assembly adapted to be inserted through a wall portion of a coin-operated machine comprising a tubular housing having opposed top and bottom walls and interconnected sidewalls, a rear wall connected between said top, bottom and opposed side walls adjacent the inner end of said housing, said rear wall having an opening formed therein, means defining a coin access opening in said top wall, said tubular wall having a front end portion adapted to project outwardly of the wall portion of said machine, a reinforcing collar circumscribing said front end portion, a coin drawer adapted to be slideably received within said housing, said drawer having a bottom wall and connected opposite sidewalls, and a front wall and backwall interconnected between said end walls to define an open top drawer, a lock means carried on the front wall, said lock means including a locking shaft extending through said drawer, said drawer backwall having an opening formed therein adapted to be disposed in alignment with said rear wall opening whereby said locking shaft is adapted to extend through said aligned openings in the assembled position thereof, and means for latching the end of said shaft in the locked position of said drawer wherein the walls of said housing are defined by a pair of channel-shaped members, each including a web portion and connected flange portions, said channel members being disposed in flange to flange position whereby the respective web portions define the opposed sides of said housing, and said reinforcing collar includes a pair of C-shaped members adapted to clamp about the extended end of said sleeve.
 7. The invention as defined in claim 6 wherein said drawer comprises a blank of sheet material defining the bottom wall, sidewalls and a backwall.
 8. The invention as defined in claim 6 and including a guard connected to the front wall of said drawer to protect said lock means. 